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Windows 7: Is there a way to do this?

I am not ready to get rid of the computer. I am not sure if this is the correct place to post this.

Here is what I am wanting to do. I don't have the restore cd but have a re-installation cd. What I would like to do, is do all the updates & add a browser or two without adding a user name. Then I will back it up using macrium reflect. So, all I will have to do, is restore the computer & when the new person boots he can enter his own name. Is this possible or is it more complicated?

Hello groze mate I don't know if this is what you want and I am guessing when you prepare the machine you would just call it ABC or something like that and then use this tutorial to change it for the new owner if that owner doesn't know how to do it.Computer Name - View and Change - Windows 7 Help Forums

If you don't set a password then the new owner then just creates their own admin account if that is what they want.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree??

Edit: If you have the key why not just make an ISO for the new owner and give him that and the key.

Hello groze mate I don't know if this is what you want and I am guessing when you prepare the machine you would just call it ABC or something like that and then use this tutorial to change it for the new owner if that owner doesn't know how to do it.Computer Name - View and Change - Windows 7 Help Forums

If you don't set a password then the new owner then just creates their own admin account if that is what they want.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree??

Edit: If you have the key why not just make an ISO for the new owner and give him that and the key.

Yeah, that would be an easier way. I would just create a fictitious user.

I was think about using oobe or audit mode. That would work where you could do all the updates, backup system. The issue would be getting out of oobe or audit mode. I read people had trouble getting out of that mode or the command prompt commands don't won't & it keeps booting up to oobe or audit mode. This way it forces the new user to agree to the EULA on the first boot. I get oobe & audit mode confused that why I am using both terms.

I could also put Linux mint oem install (I am still testing that out). There are some issues with Linux mint not seeing all partitions.

Install windows onto a spare partition. When you see the oobe hit ctrl+shift+F3 to reboot into audit mode.

You will see the sysprep window in the middle of the screen. Just leave it as is.

Install updates and programs ( you can restart to complete the update installs - you will still be in audit mode ).

When you have done all your changes, select Enter system oobe,tick the generalise box, reboot

Reboot into your original windows. From there , you can capture the sysprepped partition as install.wim using gimagex or similar.

Quote: Originally Posted by groze

I am not ready to get rid of the computer. I am not sure if this is the correct place to post this.

Here is what I am wanting to do. I don't have the restore cd but have a re-installation cd. What I would like to do, is do all the updates & add a browser or two without adding a user name. Then I will back it up using macrium reflect. So, all I will have to do, is restore the computer & when the new person boots he can enter his own name. Is this possible or is it more complicated?